Summary

ABatman - theme optical thaumaturgy has sweep across social media , as amusing fans deliberate whether Frank Miller ’s iconic cover song forThe Dark Knight Returnsshows the titular Caped Crusader face up towards or away from the reader . With the image equate to the white & gold / blue & black dress that create a similar uproar in 2015 , there ’s stiff evidence for both sides of the debate .

The argument was summarize by X userMatt Ferguson , whose stake shares the image - which testify Batman completely in silhouette with a lightning dash behind him - while asking"Is Frank Miller ’s Batman front or back look ? "

While Ferguson has admitted"it does work both ways,“comic fans have been arguing back and off , with the most creative answers offering uproarious newfangled explanation for the pose , which has been parodied and homaged unrelentingly since its first appearance .

Peanuts and golden sky

concern : DC President Jim Lee express Off One - of - a - sort Batman Art

Is Batman Facing Toward the Reader or Away?

Frank Miller’s 1986 Art Has Fans Stumped

Miller’sThe Dark Knight Returnsredefined the superhero genre when it released in 1986 , heralding what has been retrospectively named the Dark Age of Comics - gloomy and gritty history starring sub who were often as cruel and fierce as their enemy . It includes the most iconic ' Batman vs Superman ' battle in comic , where Bruce Wayne employ a peculiarly - built cause of armor to beat down the Man of Steel . Now , it ’s back , likely because ofMiller ’s recent variant cover art for Marvel , where he draws Captain America in a exchangeable airs forAvengers : Twilight . In that piece , Steve Rogers has his back to the reader , suggest that ’s how Miller assure his Batman .

That would seemingly end the treatment , however this apparently was n’t always Miller ’s intent . X userKaptainKrakenpoints out that in the original sketches for the cover version , Miller shows that Batman is facingtowardsthe reader , confirming that whatever the answer , either interpretation fits into the silhouette .

DC Fans Turn Batman Silhouette into New Art

Was Miller’s Gritty ’80s Comic Hiding a Justice League Romance?

Some user take the argument as an opportunity to get a little more creative . On Instagram , artistCaio Oliveira depicts Batman as confront away from the lector … but also suspended upside - down , with his clenched fist forming the silhouette ’s ' head . ' Meanwhile , cristal userLouie Joycefits Superman into the silhouette , showinghe and Batman kissing , complete with"smoochy smoochy"sound consequence .

Unlike the dark and blue garb , there ’s no veridical ' right ' solvent to which counsel Miller ’s Batman is facing , though the osculation is the only one that satisfactorily explains the unknown ' split ' in Batman ’s ness . Whatever the response , Frank Miller’sDark Knight Returnscover bear on to be one of the most iconic images in modern comics , even if fans ca n’t in reality agree which directionBatmanis facing .

Sources : Matt Ferguson , KaptainKraken , Caio Oliveira , Louie Joyce

A man with nuclear explosions going off behind him in The Far Side.

gary larson far side cow and cavemen

batman dark knight returns-1

riddler and dark knight batman 2

frank miller captain america cover

batman superman hug

Batman